Sustainable Patent and Pricing Policies

Roche’s patent policy in developing countries

We understand that patents can be one of the many barriers to basic medical care in poor countries. This is why we do not file for new patents on any Roche medicines, for any disease, in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as defined by the United Nations, or in Low Income Countries (LICs), as defined by the World Bank.

We also do not enforce existing patents in these countries. In addition, we do not file or enforce patents for any antiretroviral HIV medicines in the hard-hit sub-Saharan African (sSA) countries.This means generic versions of any Roche medicine can be produced and distributed in these countries without applying for a licence.

Through our Technology Transfer Initiative we also help manufacturers in these countries to produce generic versions of our HIV medication.

Pricing policy for HIV/AIDS treatments

The cost of medicines and diagnostics is one of the many barriers to treatment in the world’s poorest countries. Roche is committed to increasing access to HIV healthcare globally through the development of healthcare solutions that are sustainable and have a long-term impact, particularly on the lives of people in developing countries. Roche is a founding member of the Accelerating Access Initiative, which aims to provide sustainable access to HIV care and treatment in resource limited countries.

Through our AmpliCare programme we offer our diagnostic HIV and MTB tests at substantially reduced prices to increase access to these tools that enable more efficient use of resources.

We supply our protease inhibitors Invirase (saquinavir) and Viracept (nelfinavir) at no-profit prices to the LDCs and all of sSA. This covers 63 countries, which are home to 64% of all people living with HIV/AIDS. These are the lowest prices at which the medicines can viably be sold in the long term and do not reflect research or development costs, marketing costs, distribution costs or company overheads.

We also supply the 2 drugs at significantly reduced prices in countries defined by the World Bank as Low- or Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where HIV/AIDS is a growing problem. In total, 87% of people living with HIV/AIDS live in countries eligible for reduced-priced Roche HIV medicines. We review our no-profit prices for HIV medicines annually and adjust them when necessary to ensure they remain no-profit.

Valcyte, our medicine for AIDS-related cytomegalovirus retinitis, is also available at reduced prices for NGO-led AIDS treatment programmes in the LDCs, LICs, sSA, and LMICs.

Through our no profit approach to two key HIV medicines, we are able to offer prices similar to or below those of generic medicines.

Prices of our HIV medicines for direct purchase from Basel.

Prices are applicable to all orders from eligible countries. These prices apply to all presentations of Roche’s protease inhibitors.

These no-profit prices do not reflect research or development costs, marketing costs, distribution costs or company overheads. The terms and conditions under which Roche’s no profit prices are applicable remain unchanged. Roche will continue to review its no profit prices on an annual basis for as long as the company supplies these medicines.

Terms and Conditions associated with the Pricing Policy

• Minimum order and delivery amount per shipment is CHF 10,000
• Under circumstances where Roche is requested to provide delivery, distribution costs as well as import taxes and duties must be added. Local retail prices are therefore higher than these ex-Roche Basel prices.
• These prices are provided subject to the conditions that the drug will not be diverted or re-exported to other countries not qualifying for the specified price
• FCA Basel (Incoterms 2000)
• CAD (Cash Against Documents/Cash on Delivery) 30 days at sight
• Swiss Franc invoicing (CHF)

All purchasers placing orders for reduced priced HIV medicines from Roche Basel will be required to provide the final delivery destination and recipient name in order to enable tracking and monitoring of product supply.

In order to achieve the lowest no profit price level for Viracept, Roche’s licensing partners Agouron/Pfizer and Japan Tobacco, who hold the patent rights of Viracept, have agreed to waive all royalties on the sales of the product in qualifying countries.

Roche Company contact for ordering and logistics issues:

Sandra Torriani
Demand Manager
F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
Basel, Switzerland
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For other information concerning eligibility and pricing please contact:

René Imhof
Head of Operational Pricing
F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
Basel, Switzerland
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